Gov. Strickland Visits the Muskingum County Business Incubator

A state dignitary made a stop in Zanesville Thursday to discuss the importance of small businesses.

Governor Ted Strickland toured the Muskingum County Business Incubator and met with staff and successful entrepreneurs that were nurtured by the incubator. He also addressed the group of area officials about how incubators affect job creation.

"We also need programs like this that will provide support for those who may want to create a job, or three jobs, or five jobs, or six jobs, and I have been concerned as we have contemplated this recession and how we are going to move out of it into recovery and it is only going to be as we see, in my judgment, small business grow and thrive," says Gov. Strickland to Zanesville and Muskingum County officials.

Gov. Strickland says one hindrance for small business is a lack of capital. He says he’s spoken to the CEO’s of Ohio’s largest banks about putting resources into a community development bank.

"Where a lot of the restrictions that the larger banks say they are having to observe regarding ratios and the like, aren’t as stringent and there is greater flexibility in how loans are made," tells Gov. Strickland.

Gov. Strickland says small towns, like Zanesville, are vitally important to Ohio. Especially since Ohio’s largest industry is agriculture, followed by manufacturing. Both industries present in Zanesville.

"We are also a huge manufacturing state, but we are a state of many, many small businesses made up of one or two or eight people and in fact the real backbone to our economy tends to be smaller business within our state and within our smaller communities," says Gov. Strickland.

Gov. Strickland supports the idea of a community kitchen that would be present in the incubator if it was able to expand to a larger space. Strickland says he sees the staff at the incubator have passion for what they do and he thanks the entrepreneurs for their grit and courage in getting their businesses off the ground.

If you want to watch WHIZ’s full interview with Gov. Strickland click on our "Interview with Gov. Strickland" link above.

Katie Jeffries

KJeffries@whizmediagroup.com